A Maine police officer taken into custody by immigration authorities has agreed to voluntarily depart the United States, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed Monday.
Reserve Officer Jon Luke Evans, a native of Jamaica who served with the Old Orchard Beach Police Department, was arrested by ICE on July 25 as part of heightened enforcement efforts. Local officials previously said federal authorities had told them Evans was legally authorized to work in the country.
An ICE representative told The Associated Press that a judge granted Evans voluntary departure, allowing him to leave as early as Monday. No further details about his case were provided.
The arrest has sparked friction between Old Orchard Beach officials and ICE. Police Chief Elise Chard said federal officials had informed the department that Evans was authorized to work, and that the town had confirmed his eligibility through the Department of Homeland Security’s E-Verify program. However, Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin later accused the town of “reckless reliance” on that system.
E-Verify is an online tool that helps employers confirm whether potential hires are legally allowed to work in the U.S.
Chard said Monday that the town was aware of reports regarding Evans’ plan to leave voluntarily.
“The town reiterates its ongoing commitment to meeting all state and federal laws regarding employment,” Chard said in a statement. “We will continue to rely on the I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification form and the E-Verify database to confirm employment eligibility.”
ICE’s detainee lookup website on Monday listed Evans as being held at the Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility in Central Falls, Rhode Island. However, a Wyatt representative said he had already been transferred to an ICE facility in Burlington, Massachusetts. ICE officials declined to comment on the discrepancy. It was not clear whether Evans had legal representation, and attempts to reach him at the detention center were unsuccessful.
In July, ICE said Evans had overstayed his visa and attempted to unlawfully purchase a firearm. WMTW-TV reported that his agreement to voluntary departure allows him to leave the U.S. at his own expense, avoiding formal deportation.
